At its core, impulsive spending is when a person spends money without planning ahead or considering the cost of the purchase. This type of spending often results in financial distress and regret over the spending decisions they have made.
For those of us with ADHD or other types of neurodiversity, impulsive spending can be even more problematic.
While impulsive spending is a common struggle of those with ADHD, it does not have to be unmanageable.
Let’s explore why people with ADHD tend to make impulse purchases, and the steps you can take to manage these behaviors.
Impulsivity can be common in individuals with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and other types of neurodiversity.
Impulse control creates difficulty in controlling behaviors and decision-making processes, as well as being unable to understand the consequences of immediate actions.
Furthermore, those with ADHD often experience difficulties with time management, known as ‘time blindness’.
This is characterized by an inability to predictably estimate how long activities will take, leading to difficulty managing their environment and planning out tasks effectively. All of these struggles are directly linked to impulsivity, making it a defining challenge for many people who live with ADHD.
18 Helpful Ways to Resist Impulsive Spending
Impulse buying is a common problem, and it can be difficult to stick within a budget when you’re tempted by products displayed in store windows or online.
It can be hard to resist the urge to buy something when you don’t need it, but there are ways to help you stay on track with your spending habits.
Here are some helpful tips.
1. Become Aware of Your Spending Habits
The first step towards resisting impulsive spending is becoming aware of your spending habits. Start by tracking all of your purchases for a week or two and take note of what you spend money on. This will give you an idea of how much money you spend on things that you don’t necessarily need.
2. Create a Budget
Once you have identified areas where you spend too much, it’s time to create a budget. Make sure that your budget includes both fixed expenses (e.g., rent) and variable expenses (e.g., entertainment). Setting limits for each type of expense will help ensure that you don’t overspend in any areas.
Budgeting can be especially difficult during the holidays or special events. Check out our free .pdf downloadable LSA Budget Worksheet to help you or your learner explore expenses and your income.
3. Make Shopping Lists
Before heading out shopping, make a list of what items that need to purchase and stick with it! If possible, try not to bring any extra cash with you so that if an impulse buy arises, there won’t be enough funds available for the purchase. Making lists also helps prevent overspending as it keeps track of what needs to be bought, so it eliminates the possibility of making unnecessary purchases.
Read more about EF skills and shopping: Teaching Diverse Learners About “Smart Shopping”
4. Use Cash Only – and Carry Cash in Small Bills
When going out shopping, try using cash instead of cards or digital payment methods such as PayPal or Apple Pay. Carrying around small bills can also help avoid impulse buying since larger bills tend to make people more prone to spending more than they should due to the feeling that “it’s just one bill” instead of multiple ones adding up quickly!
5. Don’t Buy Anything in the Checkout Lane
A great way to avoid making a last-minute purchase is to simply not go down those aisles in the first place! This tip works especially well in grocery stores with checkout lanes stocked full of candy and other treats designed to tempt shoppers into making an extra purchase.
Avoiding these sections will help you stick to your budget and keep your wallet closed.
6. Keep Tags on Purchases
If you find yourself feeling tempted at the store, try leaving the tags on your items when you leave the store. By doing this, you’ll have time once you get home to think about whether or not the item is really necessary or worth keeping.
Keep in mind that most stores have return policies that allow customers to return items within a certain time frame, so if you decide later on that it wasn’t worth it, you can always take it back!
7. Give Yourself an Allowance
Instead of allowing yourself access to all of your money at once, try setting up an allowance system for yourself where each month or week, you give yourself a certain amount of money for purchases and leisure activities. This will help keep you accountable and force you to be more conscious of how much money you’re spending on unnecessary items.
8. Take Someone With You When You Shop
Having someone by your side while shopping can be incredibly helpful when trying to resist impulse buys. Bring along a friend or family member who understands how important saving money is for your financial goals and can help talk sense into you when needed! Just make sure that they don’t encourage excessive spending either!
9. Delete Card and Payment Information from Online Stores
If you know that you struggle with temptation when shopping online, one way of helping yourself is by deleting your payment information from the sites that frequently entice you. This will stop those late-night online shopping sessions in their tracks because unless you have saved card information, it will be more difficult to make purchases impulsively.
10. Use Apps to Track Your Spending
Keeping track of your finances is important no matter what your budget or financial situation may be. There are a variety of apps available for both iOS and Android devices that help users track their budgets and spending habits.
These apps can help provide an overview of where your money is going each month, which can provide insight into how much of it is going towards impulse buys.
11. Wait 24 Hours Before Buying Something You Want
When faced with the urge to buy something impulsively, a good practice is to wait 24 hours before making any decisions. During this time, take a step back and evaluate whether or not this item is worth the cost and if it fits within your budget.
Seeing as though most impulse buys tend to be made on a whim, waiting 24 hours gives you time to weigh the pros and cons of buying an item without wanting it solely because it’s right in front of you at the moment.
12. Calculate an Item’s Price in Terms of Hours You’d Have to Work to Pay For It
This tip might sound silly at first glance, but calculating an item’s price in terms of how many hours one would have had to work can help put things into perspective when trying to resist impulse buying something expensive.
For example, if something costs $200 but someone makes $15/hour then they would need 13 hours worth of work just for that one item – does this item really warrant 13 hours worth of work? Thinking about things like this could be the difference between impulse buying or not buying at all.
13. Discuss Major Purchases with a Spouse, Friend, or Family Member
If you’re considering making a major purchase, it’s always best to discuss this decision with someone else first. Talking through a planned purchase can help you determine whether it’s really worth it in the long run. This could be your spouse, friend, or family member—anyone who is willing to provide an objective opinion and support your financial goals.
14. Allow For Treats, But Only Those That Fit in Your Budget
It might seem counterintuitive at first glance, but allowing yourself some treats every once in a while isn’t necessarily bad for your budget!
When planning out your monthly expenses, set aside some money for treats such as going out for dinner with friends or grabbing ice cream on a hot day—as long as these treats fit into your budget and don’t become regular events throughout the month. Doing so will help prevent overspending while still allowing you to enjoy life!
15. Write Down Visual Reminders of Your Savings Goals
When trying to resist impulse spending, having visual reminders of your saving goals can be incredibly helpful. Write down what you want to save up for—whether it’s an upcoming vacation or just general savings—on post-its and put them around your home where they will catch your eye regularly.
Seeing these reminders will serve as constant motivation towards reaching these goals and make giving in to impulsive purchases less tempting!
16. Learn to Return Purchases
One of the best ways to combat impulse purchases is to learn how to return items when you realize you don’t really need them. This will help eliminate buyer’s remorse and help you avoid making hasty decisions that might cause financial problems down the road.
If possible, always check the return policy before making any purchases so that you know what your options are if you decide later on that it wasn’t necessary.
17. Get Help With Executive Function Coaching
Executive function coaching can be a great way to help people manage their impulses better when it comes to spending money.
Coaches can provide guidance on how to create budgets and prioritize spending in order to ensure that money isn’t wasted on unnecessary items or services. They can also offer strategies for managing emotions and creating systems for staying accountable in order to keep from succumbing to temptation when shopping online or in stores.
Final Thoughts
Overall, managing impulsive spending for those living with ADHD can be difficult but not impossible.
By creating a budget and tracking expenses regularly, as well as shopping around for the best deals, you can gain control over your finances and ultimately reduce your risk for the financial distress caused by impulse buying behaviors.
While it may take time and dedication, learning how to manage your finances appropriately is an important life skill for anyone.
